Strike a pose: Using poetry, social networking and a multiliteracies pedagogy to explore adolescent identity development
OVERVIEW:
Our latest digital literacies research explores the creation and development of online and offline identities through a unit on poetry, a classroom social networking site called the Ning and various digital tools. We were interested in how adolescents’ identities are shaped and performed as they use a social networking platform to present themselves to the world and how digital tools and a multimodal pedagogy could engage students and influence their literary practices. The five poetry types upon which the lessons were based include: acrostic, free-verse, postcard, spoken word, and found poetry.
GENERAL OUTLINE OF SESSION: - Overview of Project - Project Focus - Theoretical Framework - Context - The five poetry genres, lesson plans, tools and sample student work - Discussion
DISCUSSION POINTS: 1.) How does this project relate to lessons/projects you’ve done with your own students?
2.) What are some concerns or potential problems you see with implementing lessons like this – in general or for your classes
specifically? How might these problems be navigated successfully?
3.) We ran into some inappropriate behavior on the Ning at the beginning of the project and had to address it. What are some ways you could scaffold the use of SNSs with your students (proper netiquette, effective ways to communicate, etc)?
4.) How could the lessons be improved upon to add an extra layer of high-order thinking when it comes to the construction of the multimodal and multimedia pieces (for example, the videos and digital posters).
5.) Discuss/consider the utility of the ideas presented for your own projects – during this week or in the future.
HOT TOPICS FOR LEARNING
Strike a pose: Using poetry, social networking and a multiliteracies pedagogy to explore adolescent identity development
OVERVIEW:
Our latest digital literacies research explores the creation and development of online and offline identities through a unit on poetry, a classroom social networking site called the Ning and various digital tools. We were interested in how adolescents’ identities are shaped and performed as they use a social networking platform to present themselves to the world and how digital tools and a multimodal pedagogy could engage students and influence their literary practices. The five poetry types upon which the lessons were based include: acrostic, free-verse, postcard, spoken word, and found poetry.
GENERAL OUTLINE OF SESSION:
- Overview of Project
- Project Focus
- Theoretical Framework
- Context
- The five poetry genres, lesson plans, tools and sample student work
- Discussion
DISCUSSION POINTS:
1.) How does this project relate to lessons/projects you’ve done with your own students?
2.) What are some concerns or potential problems you see with implementing lessons like this – in general or for your classes
specifically? How might these problems be navigated successfully?
3.) We ran into some inappropriate behavior on the Ning at the beginning of the project and had to address it. What are some ways you could scaffold the use of SNSs with your students (proper netiquette, effective ways to communicate, etc)?
4.) How could the lessons be improved upon to add an extra layer of high-order thinking when it comes to the construction of the multimodal and multimedia pieces (for example, the videos and digital posters).
5.) Discuss/consider the utility of the ideas presented for your own projects – during this week or in the future.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES/RELEVANT LINKS:
- http://digitalliteracies.ning.com/profile/LauraMorrison
- www.readwritethink.org
- www.writeordie.com
- www.Glogster.com
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQbQGn_rqTw